Trunk-fastener.



R. B. FERGUSON.

TRUNK FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1912.

Patented 0ct.28,1913.

ROBERT .B. FERGUSON, 0F ZLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

Specification of LettersiPa'ten't.

amtenteuoet:28,1913.

Application filed September 23, .1912. Serial No. 721,997.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronnn'r B. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of trunk fasteners in which chains or ropes are provided and adapted to encircle the trunk so that by means of a tension device the chain or rope may be properly strained, and the object thereof is to provide a cheap, simple, and efficient device for that purpose which can be locked in its operative position. I accomplish this object by means of the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a trunk showing the device in position ready to strain the chain, with the device dotted in its closed position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of my device in its locked position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

In the drawings 5 is an L-shaped body member, preferably a brass rod the ends of which are flattened. One portion 6 of the body is shorter than the other and will be called the short end and the other portion will be called the long end of the body. A tensioning lever 8 has a slot 7 in one end thereof and is pivotally mounted by pintle bolt 9 upon the short end 6 of the body. A locking clevis 10 is pivotally secured to the long end of the body by pintle bolt 11. Near the clevis a retaining pin 12 is mounted in the body 5. Secured to the tensioning lever 8 near its connection to member 6 is a stud 13 to which is pivo-tally secured a clevis 141 by a pintle bolt 14*. Clevis 14: straddles lever 8, and surrounds the same. One end of chain 17 is secured upon clevis 14. A recess 15 may be provided in lever 8 into which will be received the end of pin 12 when the parts are positioned for use.

In the operation of my device the chain is first placed to encircle the trunk 18 with the body member and tensioning lever preferably on the top in the position shown in Fig. 1. The loose end of the chain is then threaded through clevis 10 and drawn as tight as possible by hand. A link is then slipped over retaining pin 12. The tensioning lever 8 is then turned on its pivot .to a position parallel with lever 5 which tightens the chain securely around the trunk, In passing to this position the end of stud 12 is receivedin a recess 15 provided in lever 8. Locking clevis 10 is then rotated on its pivot to encircle the end of the tensioning lever. The hasp of a padlock 16 is then threaded through clevis 10 between the outer end of said clevis and the operat ing lever and locked, thus preventing clevis 10 from being drawn 01f the tensioning lever. The outer end of lever 8 is preferably curved outwardly slightly as best shown in Fig. 2, to more securely position the lock. It will be seen from the relative positions, one with the other, of pintle bolts 9 and 14: that the device when closed will always tend to remain so whether or not the locking clevis is encircling the tensioning lever.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. A trunk fastener comprising an L- shaped body member one end of the L being longer than the other; a locking clevis pivotally connected to the longer end of the body; a pin mounted in the body near the locking clevis and projecting therefrom on the same side as the shorter end of the body; a tensioning lever pivotally connected to the shorter end of the body of a length substantially the same as the longer end of the body; a stud mounted in the tensioning lever near its connection with the body and projecting toward the longer end of the body when positioned for use; a clevis surrounding said lever and pivotally connected to the stud mounted in the lever; and a chain mounted on the clevis surrounding the lever, said chain being adapted to be passed around a trunk and through the clevis at the longer end of the body and secured upon the pin therein and then tensioned by the lever.

2. A trunk fastener comprising an L'- shaped body member, one end of the L being longer than the other; a locking clevis pivotally connected to the longer end of the body; a pin mounted in the body near the locking clevis and projecting therefrom on the same side as the shorter end of the body; a tensioning lever pivotally connected to the shorter end of the body of a length substantially the same as the longer end of the body; a stud mounted in the tensioning lever near its connection with the body and projecting toward the longer end of the body when positioned for use; a clevis surrounding said lever and pivotally connected to the stud mounted in the lever; a chain mounted on the clevis surrounding the lever, said chain being adapted to be passed around a trunk and through the clevis at the longer end of the body and secured upon the pin therein and then tensioned by the 10 lever; in combination with a locking means to hold the looking clevis on the tensioning lever.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of September, 1912.

ROBERT B. FERGUSON.

Witnesses FRANK WATERFIELD, C. H. GATCHEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

